Which Liverpool mid do we want?

[bigcliff2]

I think they'll all score well, it's not something I'd be getting bogged down in worrying about. Like you say, I'd probably pick Coutinho right now if I was w/cing simply because he's the cheapest.

As for the penalties, I was wondering that myself yesterday. I wouldn't have Henderson hitting them myself and I'm not sure it would be him. Possibly Lallana, though again he's not guaranteed to be on the pitch either. It's impossible to say IMO.

[murf]

I think the current first choice front 3 is: Mane/Firmino/Salah with Coutinho playing the 'Lallana role' in central midfield. Sturridge can slot in (like yesterday) as can others and Lallana will soon be back so plenty of rotation/resting options.

As for pens, I think it goes: Firmino/Milner/Henderson but no great evidence to back that up.

[gallus]

Whoever you can afford would be my advice. I currently have Coutinho. Mane has the best potential imo, but I can't afford him.

[TheBigLewandowski]

They will all score well over the course of the season IMO.
Also looks like Firmino may be rotated more this season based on yesterday's benching?
He played an awful lot of minutes last season iirc.

[Stemania]

Thread merged with previous on same topic. I took the liberty to reset the now-outdated poll. Previous results (up until the first week of September) below:

Player, Votes, %
Coutinho 20 9%
Mane 85 39%
Salah 92 43%
Lallana 3 1%
Wijnaldum 4 2%
Other 0 0%
None 12 6%

[Joccki_10]

If Mané drops to £9.3 by gameweek 10, I will get him. If he doesn't, I will probably get him too.

[baganboy]

What Joccki said. Though Coutinho ....

[dino1980]

Salah for me and it's not even close. His numbers this season (xG+xA) are far higher than Mane's. Expanding the sample Salah's numbers for this season, and those he put up last season at Roma, are far higher than anything Mane has managed in his time in English football.

[Aldershot Rejects]

Salah for me and it's not even close. His numbers this season (xG+xA) are far higher than Mane's. Expanding the sample Salah's numbers for this season, and those he put up last season at Roma, are far higher than anything Mane has managed in his time in English football.

I agree re Salah.

Coutinho scored about 10% higher than Mane with similar figures last year, so I'd put Mane third (especially as he is the highest price). Ironically though, I suspect (and I haven't checked this) that Liverpool actually score more goals when Mane plays.

I would be tempted to double up, although the fact that Liverpool are struggling a bit at present is putting me off a bit at the moment.

[Joccki_10]

Salah for me and it's not even close. His numbers this season (xG+xA) are far higher than Mane's. Expanding the sample Salah's numbers for this season, and those he put up last season at Roma, are far higher than anything Mane has managed in his time in English football.

I agree re Salah.

Coutinho scored about 10% higher than Mane with similar figures last year, so I'd put Mane third (especially as he is the highest price). Ironically though, I suspect (and I haven't checked this) that Liverpool actually score more goals when Mane plays.

I would be tempted to double up, although the fact that Liverpool are struggling a bit at present is putting me off a bit at the moment.

Could be, guys. I won’t argue about this since these are probably the ‘hard’ stats. But the eye test and Mané being less of a rotation risk convince me otherwise.

[Oxford NZ]

I ticked the none box but would like Coutinho. I just cant afford him and potentially Hazard at the same time. Chelsea and City look more attractive atm but I am sure I will change my mind.

[RuudTheDudeVanTheMan]

Currently have Salah but will get Silva for upcoming game week. Will be looking to get Coutinho after the next 2 gws probably for Alli.

[Resonare]

I had Coutinho for 8.8m but got rid for Ritchie to fund Aguero

I think he is probably the best option.

[murf]

As for pens, I think it goes: Firmino/Milner/Henderson but no great evidence to back that up.

Worth noting that Salah took and scored one for Egypt the other day. Under pressure too as an injury time winner that took them to the World Cup finals!

[Striker]

As for pens, I think it goes: Firmino/Milner/Henderson but no great evidence to back that up.

Worth noting that Salah took and scored one for Egypt the other day. Under pressure too as an injury time winner that took them to the World Cup finals!

The under pressure comment is a valuable one IF the penalty was a very good one. Do you know if it was potentially savable or not?

P.S. Just seen it on YouTube - was a pretty good penalty without being outstanding.

[hancockjr]

Salah for me and it's not even close. His numbers this season (xG+xA) are far higher than Mane's. Expanding the sample Salah's numbers for this season, and those he put up last season at Roma, are far higher than anything Mane has managed in his time in English football.

Salah is an appalling finisher though so he will always have a final total that is lower than the xG predicts.

[dino1980]

Salah for me and it's not even close. His numbers this season (xG+xA) are far higher than Mane's. Expanding the sample Salah's numbers for this season, and those he put up last season at Roma, are far higher than anything Mane has managed in his time in English football.

Salah is an appalling finisher though so he will always have a final total that is lower than the xG predicts.

Apart from the last three seasons when he's outscored his xG by 1.59, 4.62 and 2.19 goals I didn't follow his time at Roma, but it seems to me that his reputation as a bad finisher is based on seven games in the PL, which doesn't seem long enough given he scored 29/65 for Roma. I'm not saying he's a better finisher than Mane or Coutinho. He certainly won't score as many cut-inside-bend-it-in-the-top-corner goals as Mane or edge of the box beauties as Coutinho. But, in my opinion, he will score more goals. Mainly because he will take more shots in the box and his average quality of chance will be higher. I also think he'll provide more assists than Mane (based on historical KPp90 numbers).

My above 'it's not even close' might be taken it a touch far, the three main mids are all fine options and I'm sure I'll double up before the season is out.

[Sutter Kane]

What's the argument for having none of them? Is that lunacy? If it is indeed Salah (easily or not), then is it a case of Salah wins vs all other mids, Liverpool or not?

I'm certainly in no rush to bring any of them on board. If I do, it'll likely be GW10 for Eriksen and budget based depending on what I want to do with the rest of my squad...I have to say, I'd be bothered about releasing Eriksen.

[dino1980]

It certainly possible to make a case for having none of them. The FISO 'template' seems to have two spots (max) for 8.5m+ midfielders. City, with cheaper assets and Chelsea, both have better fixtures than Liverpool and Spurs have two proven 9.5M+ midfielders who aren't as prone to rotation.

[andybarrell]

not Mane
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41573042

[FF Newbie]

It certainly possible to make a case for having none of them. The FISO 'template' seems to have two spots (max) for 8.5m+ midfielders. City, with cheaper assets and Chelsea, both have better fixtures than Liverpool and Spurs have two proven 9.5M+ midfielders who aren't as prone to rotation.

What's the Fiso template?

[Joccki_10]

What Joccki said.

Or not.

[dino1980]

It certainly possible to make a case for having none of them. The FISO 'template' seems to have two spots (max) for 8.5m+ midfielders. City, with cheaper assets and Chelsea, both have better fixtures than Liverpool and Spurs have two proven 9.5M+ midfielders who aren't as prone to rotation.

What's the Fiso template?

I tried to send you a PM but couldn't and don't want to clog up a thread about Liverpool midfielders with template talk. But, in one sentence, lower spend in midfield to enable higher spend in attack and/or defence.

[Mav3rick]

Well, the Mane news removes one of my transfer wishes, which was getting him in for one of Salah or Alli in the near future.

In that case I'm happy enough with Salah in my side, I'm not super convinced by a Chelsea midfielder (other than Hazard who's a different category really) and I can't get Eriksen due to the three player limit. Salah's been returning good amounts of underlying stats and looks dangerous, I'm also less worried about rotation with Mane out (early subbings perhaps but hopefully 60+ min appearances) which makes Salah a potential captain pick now in GW10.

Coutinho would be a reasonable choice too, but too sideways for me (Salah only 9.1 sale price) and ultimately I think Salah has a decent chance to score more FPL points due to his more advanced position, although it's arguable that Coutinho could play further forward, or that Lallana would become the true value pick while Mane is out.

[Smurphy Paw]

As a Salah owner I am keeping. I would prefer Coutinho on recent form, but not enough for the sideways switch.
If, however, I had a free hand...

[owenclass]

Well with the news of Sadio Mane getting injured then i think Lallsna when he comes back could be good player to pick

[Mav3rick]

Seems that Salah is the Liverpool pen taker now! According to FFS quoting Klopp's presser...

[murf]

Seems that Salah is the Liverpool pen taker now! According to FISO quoting Klopp's presser...

[Finisher1]

Seems that Salah is the Liverpool pen taker now! According to FFS quoting Klopp's presser...

Are you sure he wasn't simply joking? I think he was asked what he thought about Salah's penalty for Egypt, to which he answered "I think he is our penalty taker now!"

We should see the clip to put it in context.

[Resonare]

I've thought about it and decided to go with Mane again. With the Xmas period fastly approaching, it seems as though Mane is less likely to get rotated having missed a lot of games already. Klopp played him in every game during the same period last season as well while Salah has been rested a few times already this season so that's swayed me toward Mane.

Also, I think there's a good chance that Mane will outscore Salah during this period in the games they both play. Salah has more goal attempts, but Mane's conversion rate is better and he is certainly the more clinical finisher. Of course, we can't simply say that Mane or Salah is the bigger goal threat without exact numbers for the two stats above (sudden moment of deja vu, think I was saying this on another thread?) but in tight games like Chelsea at home in GW13 I think I trust Mane to deliver points living off of scraps than I do Salah.